Causes of the Spanish/American Causes of the Spanish/American WarWar

•Spain’s Reconcentration PolicySpain’s Reconcentration Policy– Civilians were forced into campsCivilians were forced into camps

•Enabled Spain to separate civilians from Enabled Spain to separate civilians from guerillasguerillas

– Made Spain look bad to USMade Spain look bad to US

•American Economic InterestsAmerican Economic Interests– Cuban plantations were American Cuban plantations were American

ownedowned

•Yellow JournalismYellow Journalism– Keep stories interestingKeep stories interesting– Made US want warMade US want war

“You furnish the pictures, I’ll

furnish the war”

William Randolph

Hearst

““Remember the Maine”Remember the Maine”•USS Maine exploded in Havana USS Maine exploded in Havana

HarborHarbor– Little proof that Spanish were Little proof that Spanish were

responsibleresponsible

•Yellow Journalism took overYellow Journalism took over– Printed details of how Spain did itPrinted details of how Spain did it

•Congress began preparing for warCongress began preparing for war– War declared on April 15, 1898War declared on April 15, 1898

The Philippines

CubaUSA

““A Splendid Little War”A Splendid Little War”•The Philippine The Philippine

ConnectionConnection– Sent ships to contain Sent ships to contain

Spanish fleet in Manila BaySpanish fleet in Manila Bay– Rapidly destroyed Spanish Rapidly destroyed Spanish

fleetfleet– Supplied a Filipino revolt Supplied a Filipino revolt

against the Spanishagainst the Spanish– Spain surrendered, turned Spain surrendered, turned

Philippines to USPhilippines to US•Left questions of who would Left questions of who would

rule islandsrule islands

““A Splendid Little War”A Splendid Little War”•Fighting in CubaFighting in Cuba

– US Army was out of dateUS Army was out of date– Teddy Roosevelt led the “Rough Riders”Teddy Roosevelt led the “Rough Riders”

•Charged San Juan HillCharged San Juan Hill

– Many all black regiments helped win the Many all black regiments helped win the warwar

•Naval EncountersNaval Encounters– Met Spanish fleet in Santiago, won easilyMet Spanish fleet in Santiago, won easily

•““Splendid Little War”Splendid Little War”– US was dominate, and lost very littleUS was dominate, and lost very little